CCGL9065: Our Response to Climate Change: HK2100

Space War, 1% of 1%, and Mars Colonization

Dr. Hongshan Guo and Class

1: Introduction to the Modern Space Race

Renewed interest in space:
- New players: Private companies, billionaires
- Goals: Mars colonization, space tourism
Dual narrative:
- Progress vs. escapism concerns

Space Race

2: Historical Context - The Original Space Race

US vs. USSR competition:
- Sputnik launch (1957)
- Moon landing (1969)
Symbolized:
- National pride
- Technological superiority

Checkout a Collage Mockup on Sputnik Crisis

3: Historical vs. Modern Space Race

Then: Government-led
- Apollo program budget: ~$25.4 billion (~$150 billion in today’s dollars)
- Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the moon moon in 1972.
- Communication, medical and technological advancements
- ‘thaw’ in cold war led to cooperation between two nations

On 12 September 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech to a large crowd gathered at the Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. The speech called for an ambitious space exploration programme that included not just missions to put astronauts on the Moon, but various other space projects such as communications and weather satellites. The quotation “We choose to go to the Moon” is remembered as the tagline from the speech. The US would succeed in this mission eight years later, but Kennedy would not be around to see it. He was assassinated two years later in Dallas, Texas on 22 November 1963.

How it was started: Following the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union competed to see who had the best technology in space. This included events such as the first satellite to orbit Earth, the first human-crewed spacecraft and the first person to walk on the Moon. The space race was considered vital by the two nations as it showed the world which country had the superior scientific, economic and political systems.

Now: Private sector involvement
- SpaceX valuation: Over $100 billion as of 2021
- Competitors catching up but not fast enough

4: The Billionaire’s Space Race

Elon Musk’s SpaceX:
- Goal: Mars colonization
- Anecdote: Launched a Tesla into space (2018)
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin:
- Focus: Space tourism
- Quote: “We need to move heavy industry into space.”
Now out: Virgin Galactic (Virgin Orbit)

5: Environmental Impact - Spacecraft Emissions

Rocket emissions:
- Can release 300 tons of CO2 per launch
- Does not get publicized on how this can be reduced as space explorations goes full commercial as tourism
Comparison:
- A single space shuttle launch = ~23 hours of 747 air travel emissions

6: Costs of Space Exploration

Financials:
- NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover mission cost: ~$2.7 billion
Debate:
- Allocation towards terrestrial vs. space issues

6.1 Space Tourism Going Private

Space X:
- Drastically reduced cost of space launch with Falcon rockets
- Avg. cost per launch now around $62 million (contrast to $100 to $500 million prior to Falcon)
Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic
- Suborbital space tourism
- Ticket around $250,000 per passenger

7: Unintended Benefits of Space Exploration

Technological spinoffs:
- GPS technology, initially for military/naval use
- Memory foam, developed for aircraft cushions
Anecdote:
- Camera phones using tech developed for space imaging

8: The Debate on Extraterrestrial Life

Search efforts:
- Mars rovers searching for microbial life signs
Philosophical implication:
- “Are we alone?” A question driving human curiosity

9: Ethical Considerations of Space Colonization

Terraforming Mars:
- Ethical debate on transforming another planet
Protecting potential life:
- Planetary protection protocols to avoid contamination

10: The “Escape Plan” Mentality

Critique:
- Viewing space as an “escape” from Earth’s issues
Anecdote:
- Stephen Hawking’s warning about Earth’s fragility and the need for an alternative
Interesting Pop Culture/Sci-Fi Reference: The Wandering Earth

11: Space Exploration and Global Power Dynamics

New “Cold War”:
- Space as a geopolitical arena
  - U.S. Space Force (2019)
  - China’s Chang’e Program (2020)
  - UAE’s Hope Probe (2021)
- Nations showcasing technological prowess.
International Competition:
- Moon and Mars missions by various countries.
- Satellite launches for national security and communication.
Limitation of existing treaty: Outer Space Treaty (1967)
Anti-Satellite Tests: U.S. Russia, China, India

12: Public Perception and Oversight

Public Engagement:
- Growing interest in space tourism.
- Debates on the ethical implications of colonization.
Oversight Concerns:
- Calls for transparent governance of space activities.
- Concerns over weaponization and space debris management.

13: Sustainability in Space Exploration

Green Propulsion:
- Development of eco-friendly rocket fuels.
- Reduction in launch emissions.
Space Debris Mitigation:
- Initiatives for debris tracking and removal.
- International agreements on responsible space activities.

14: Future Visions - Where Are We Heading?

Mars Colonization:
- Plans for sustainable habitats on Mars.
- Research on closed-loop life support systems.
Asteroid Mining:
- Potential for extracting valuable minerals.
- Ethical and legal considerations of exploiting extraterrestrial resources.

15: Reflecting on Our Place in the Universe

Cosmic Perspective:
- The “Overview Effect”: Astronauts’ profound experience of seeing Earth from space.
- Realizing Earth’s uniqueness and vulnerability.
Stewardship and Exploration:
- Balancing the drive to explore with the responsibility to protect our home planet and its ecosystems.

16: The Growing Problem of Space Debris

Space Junk Stats:
- Over 500,000 pieces of debris tracked in orbit.
- Threats to satellites and the International Space Station (ISS).
Collision Risks:
- High-speed impacts with even small debris can cause significant damage.
- Notable incidents: Damage to space shuttles, satellite collisions.

17: The Challenges of Space Waste Management

Limited Cleanup Solutions:
- Emerging technologies for debris removal still in infancy.
- Challenges in cost-effective and scalable solutions.
Global Efforts:
- Need for international cooperation on space waste management.
- Potential for collaborative clean-up missions and debris mitigation protocols.

Not without tweaking DNA

18: Mars Colonization and Environmental Ethics

Terraforming Ethics:
- Debate on the moral right to alter another planet’s environment.
- Potential impact on undiscovered Martian ecosystems.
Precautionary Measures:
- Importance of stringent planetary protection measures.
- Ensuring Mars exploration does not harm potential life or the Martian environment.

19: Cosmic Perspective on Environmental Stewardship

Learning from Space:
- Space missions highlighting Earth’s finite resources and delicate ecosystems.
- Insights into climate processes and environmental protection.
Ethical Exploration:
- Advocating for responsible and ethical conduct in all space endeavors.
- Ensuring space exploration benefits humanity without compromising Earth’s ecological balance.

20. Change of Plan with role-finding this week

Experts/Influencers on:

Space Exploration Advocacy versus
Vowing to pause space exploration for more important issues like climate change

General Public as:

Educators and academics from STEM
Policy makers and government officials
Business leaders and entrepreneurs in energy sector
Social scientists and ethicists
Tech industry professionals
Self-defined (Pick as you wish)

21. Wrapping up CCGL9065

Foster critical thinking
We have one topic
- Step 1: From which we picked two different sides
- Step 2: From each sides there are a multitude of angles of expression
  - What left a mark on your perception?
  - And how can you influence other people with these experience?

Practical Question: Essay-Writing Clarification

YOUR response to climate change with HK 2100 in mind
“story” not to be confused with “fiction”
- story-telling $≠$ story-creation
Objective: Write a reflective essay (750 words max) that uses a narrative to propose a realistic climate change solution.
Grading criteria:
- address the task aka provide an individual response in writing
- show engagement of your topic w/ overarching climate change theme
- present clear, logical argument from various perspectives, including counter-evidence if any
- coherent structure with clear call of action and conclusion, proper paragraphing, minimal language errors
Final Note: The essay and visual should not only reflect academic insights but also aim to inspire broader awareness and action on climate change.